Opel Kadett C

[AndreEst]

Hi all, I´m new here, but will get to the point right away.
So I bought a 74 year Kadett and it needs some work, so I decided to also swap the engine and planing to go with aa 86´ Sierra 2.0 carb, a V6 with a 5 speed tranny, because I have one that I can use right away.
The question is, will it be to heavy ? Withs the transmission it weights about 150 kg.
Also need to change the rear end, so thought of a Hilux differential with axels.
Also a little picture to see what I´m talking about.
P1010284.jpg
What are your opinions ?

[RallyBob]

That engine and tranmission won't be too heavy if the Kadett originally was a CIH engine version...those engines weigh about 125 kg plus the gearbox weight. But if it has the OHV 1.2 litre, then the entire front crossmember and suspension are smaller and would need to be upgraded to support the weight.

[AndreEst]

That´s good, because as soon as I get enough money, it will be replaced with a 2.9 Scorpio motor, it only weights 30 kilos more and for the front the last owner advised a Rekord front axle ( don´t remember what year ) with disk brakes, would that be enough, or what other axles would fit there without a major mod. And the suspension will be changed on the whole car

[Hiro]

Originally Posted by AndreEst That´s good, because as soon as I get enough money, it will be replaced with a 2.9 Scorpio motor, it only weights 30 kilos more and for the front the last owner advised a Rekord front axle ( don´t remember what year ) with disk brakes, would that be enough, or what other axles would fit there without a major mod. And the suspension will be changed on the whole car

the Rekord axle is much wider so it's not an easy upgrade,
better/easier to modify the original axle & A arms,
you can buy a convertion kit in Germany that will make it identical to a GTE axle:
Oil pressure valve
Hiro

[AndreEst]

Okey, so that ford motor doesn´t have a choice now, because I would get in lot of trouble here. So it needs to be a Opel inline 4 engine.
So what would you recommend ?
I thought of and Omega engine but any better opinions ?
Also about the axles, I need to find something from estonia, because it would be too expensive to order it from germany.
Thanks,
Andre

[AndreEst]

Still haven´t decided yet if to go with the 2.9 V6 from a ford scorpio or the C20NE, which is a lot smaller engine, but that´s the point, I´m not sure if this opel will handle this weight on the front.
And I also bought an ascona axels, because the front had disc brakes, will see if I can only use the brakes or maybe even the hole axle and if the rear axle is okey it will go in use also. I´ll show the pictures later.

[Opelkurt]

What happened to / what's wrong with the original engine?

-Kurt

[AndreEst]

It needs some work and since I´m rebuilding the whole car I thought I make it a pit more interesting. It will be a project car and it´s very hard to find spare pars for the original 1.2 engine. It´s a pretty rare car here in estonia
And it looks like I can only use those discs from the ascona axle
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9522/p1010371mg3.jpg
The rear axle fits, but looks like it will be a bit too week.

[heimue]

Originally Posted by AndreEst And it looks like I can only use those discs from the ascona axle http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9522/p1010371mg3.jpg The rear axle fits, but looks like it will be a bit too week.

Your original Kadett C 1.2 front axle should already have disc brakes. The last front drum brakes Opel used were on the 1.0 Liter Kadett B.

Dieter

[AndreEst]

But mine has drums and the documents say it´s a 1.2 , how can I tell the difference of a 1.2 and 1.0 and there is a possibility that it has a B kadette front axle maybe.

[Opelkurt]

Originally Posted by AndreEst But mine has drums and the documents say it´s a 1.2 , how can I tell the difference of a 1.2 and 1.0 and there is a possibility that it has a B kadette front axle maybe.

Thoughts..

There never was a 1.0 liter Kadett B. The Kadett A 1.0 and early Kadett B 1.1 did have front drums.

A Kadett B front axle couldn't have been fitted to a Kadett C without major surgery...

The standard 1.2 Kadett C front axle will not safely handle the weight of the larger 4-cylinder Opel engines, let alone the Ford V-6, as Bob mentioned.

-Kurt

[AndreEst]

Then it just has to be reinforced, but what axle is used here - Cruisingnight.tk - Building the Monster Kadett ?
That V8 is def. a lot heavier then a light V6 ( with the transmission it weighs 175 kg )

[stardust_73]

For me it is not a good choice to fit an iron VA6 in your kadett.
Why don't try to fit the CIH from an ascona-manta-record?
it will fit easily ,engine and gearbox, and the only 'special' components will be the engine mounts that you will be find in germany for 70Euro aprox.
If you dont like this , you can fit the newer C20NE or the C20XE ( for me the best choice ever). These are more more lighter and stronger than Cih and more easy to restore or modify at these days as they are more modern and there is avaliability of engine components.
You can also choose a different engines to fit but as the kadett is a light car the fiment of a heavy engine will change its characteristics in a bad way.
For example a Ford Duratec 4cyl, a Mazda BP (from MX5) or a new alloy opel 4cyl are all good engine as they are light, strong , almost 'bulletproof' and with good (small) fuel cosumpsion.

[Opelkurt]

Originally Posted by AndreEst Then it just has to be reinforced, but what axle is used here - Cruisingnight.tk - Building the Monster Kadett ? That V8 is def. a lot heavier then a light V6 ( with the transmission it weighs 175 kg )

That was an OHV Kadett B, the replacement front axle came from a CIH Kadett B (different motor mounting, 3-leaf spring instead of the original 2-leaf), so it was a little better suited to support a heavier engine.

-Kurt

[AndreEst]

Thanks kurt, but I think it is better to go with the C20NE, since I have thought of that also.And if I get it right, I only need a oil pan form a vectra or a calibra and make the motormounts and we´re off ?

[stardust_73]

you will need the alloy sump and the engine mounts of the manta 1800 ( last series body , the one with third door). it has the same engine as you but 1800cc

[knipex]

Let me get this correct.

To fit the xe engine in a kadett c (later 1.2 unit) you would need to upgrade the front cross member and suspension.

Engine mounts and sump from the manta can be gotten pretty easily but would the front cross member and suspension from a Manta A (or B) fit into the kadett and be strong enough to support the weight.

I have never seen the upgrade kit mentioned earlier so a link would be handy.

For the gear box would it not be easier (and cheaper) to use a 5 speed type 9 box ?

Thats what the seem to use on all the 7 type cars (westfield etc) and bell hosuings to suit are cheaply available along with remote linkages to keep the gear leaver position.